We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dahlia Garofalo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dahlia below.

Dahlia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Before my current day job/career with ceramics, I worked in vet medicine. I loved working with family pets as well as sheep and pigs. I loved learning about animal anatomy and behavior. I loved feeding sheep marshmallows on my lunch breaks. I loved the day I learned pigs wag their tails just like dogs when happy to see you. I loved x-rays and dentals and SNAP tests and C-Arms.

I quit my career in vet medicine for good about a year ago. Not because I didn’t love it, but because I love so many things in my current life more. The clinics I worked in had a high mortality rate. Everyday I witnessed the worst moments of peoples’ lives saying goodbye to loved ones. Everyday, I comforted frightened, injured animals I could never convince we were actually trying to help. Everyday, I surrounded myself with tired, burnt out people trying to help and find answers.

I learned from my career in vet medicine how to prioritize self care, how to walk away, how to “fail” at something I loved. I learned that I could not be an artist, a Vet Tech, and a healthy human. I could only choose two.

I still miss working with animals but do not regret my decision. I chose creative expression and peace. I chose myself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My business, Mycelium Mischief, was born about two years ago when I was introduced to pottery by a friend. I thought about pottery nonstop; I dreamed about it and filled notebooks with ideas. I dove headfirst into the ceramics world and have yet to come up for air. Pottery became a way to bring my ideas to the surface, to express myself, and to process my life in a whole new way.

I specialize in Glass Ceramic Pottery which is the art of fusing recycled glass and clay to create unique pieces. The clay is first formed into the desirable shape. Then crushed glass is added and the piece is melted in a kiln. While not food safe, Glass Ceramic Pottery can be used to create incense holders, trinket dishes, ring holders, pendants, and more. I enjoy incorporating recycled materials into my pottery whenever possible. When I learned how difficult it is to recycle colored glass bottles, I knew I had to find a way to recycle it myself. Now I have many family, friends, and coworkers saving me bottles and diverting beautiful glass from our landfills!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It is a lot of work being an artist. You make a thing and that takes time, energy, and money. Then you need to sell that thing which takes more time, energy, and money. It’s essentially two full time jobs mashed together that require very different skills. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and behind.

As a disabled person, I need to remember that my health comes first which sometimes means I miss opportunities or slow down when it would help my business to keep going. There is no one way to be a small business owner. Start where you are and do what you can. Be proud of every milestone.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When I work with clay, I feel like I am finally doing everything I was meant to do. When I meet with other artists and strengthen our local community, I feel connection like I never have before. When I send one of my creations into its new home, I feel a cosmic sense of gratitude, an assurance that I am everything I was meant to be.

Growing up with undiagnosed Autism and ADHD, I struggled to understand the nuances of human connection. I knew who I was but also knew that, for some reason, the world resented my identity. Everyone else was given a book of all the rules to follow, but try and I might, I could never find copy for myself.

I think many artists, in one way or another, feel alienated from the rest of the world for not understanding “the rules.” The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the moment we create our own realities, life paths, and ambitions. It’s the moment we stop conforming and twisting ourselves into crevices we don’t belong in. It’s the moment we accept that we are not only creators of art, but creators of our world. And we can create something better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mycelium-mischief.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: @mycelium_mischief
• Other: TikTok: @myceliummischief